Easily one of the best sci-fi movies in existence, with many movies drawing aspiration from its unique features.

From "Gameover man, gameover!" to "LETS ROCK!!!", the movie has immensely famous quotes, being used in games such as Call of duty (Terrible game..) to Fallout 3.

Any opinions on this masterpiece from the 80's?

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Aliens is great; an example of how to do a sequel not just right but brilliantly. But the original Alien remains superior in mood, atmosphere and acting.

Comparing the two is a bit problematic, as mrbiscoop points out. They're virtually different genres.

Indeed they are different genres, but Aliens is still one of the best sci-fi movies in existence.

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Rule 1: No pooftas. Rule 2: No maltreating the theists, IF, anyone is watching. Rule 3: No pooftas. Rule 4: I do not want to see anyone NOT drinking after light out. Rule 5: No pooftas. Rule 6: There is NO...rule 6.

What i love the most about Aliens, is how some of my favorite WW2 weapons (M1 thompson and MG42 machinegun) were used to make up the M41a pulse rifle and M56 Smartgun.

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Rule 1: No pooftas. Rule 2: No maltreating the theists, IF, anyone is watching. Rule 3: No pooftas. Rule 4: I do not want to see anyone NOT drinking after light out. Rule 5: No pooftas. Rule 6: There is NO...rule 6.

Aliens is great; an example of how to do a sequel not just right but brilliantly. But the original Alien remains superior in mood, atmosphere and acting.

Comparing the two is a bit problematic, as mrbiscoop points out. They're virtually different genres.

Indeed they are different genres, but Aliens is still one of the best sci-fi movies in existence.

Aliens is probably better compared to Starship Troopers for content, and in that comparison I think ST is a better film - but its like asking whether Prost or Senna was the better driver, they were both bloody good.

Starship Troopers (the first one) was bloody great, the props and plot was simply above par.

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Rule 1: No pooftas. Rule 2: No maltreating the theists, IF, anyone is watching. Rule 3: No pooftas. Rule 4: I do not want to see anyone NOT drinking after light out. Rule 5: No pooftas. Rule 6: There is NO...rule 6.

Just wondering - did you ever read the original novel? Miles away from the film, but just as good in its own way - I think you'd like it. In fact, I think you'd enjoy pretty much all of Robert Heinlein's work.

There was a low budget student movie made in 1974 called Dark Star It was directed by John Carpenter before he got famous and he and Dan O'Bannon wrote it. Who is Dan O'Bannon? They guy that wrote Alien. (he also directed Return of the Living Dead)

The central story in Dark Star - a demolishing crew on a spaceship (they blow up planets) have a smart bomb go awry and attempt to detonate itself while still aboard. The first mate (captain died and is frozen in suspension) has to use a brain-in-a-jar existential argument to talk the smart bomb out of detonating.

Meanwhile on board, Sgt Pinback (O'Bannon) has lost his pet alien. It is a painted beach ball with feet. It gets into the ducts and he has to go in search for it. These scenes are replicated almost exactly in Alien.

It is a great film and it contains many themes that Carpenter and O'Bannon explore throughout their careers. Any serious fan of the genre should see Dark Star.

There was a low budget student movie made in 1974 called Dark Star It was directed by John Carpenter before he got famous and he and Don O'Bannon wrote it. Who is Don O'Bannon? They guy that wrote Alien. (he also directed Return of the Living Dead)

The central story in Dark Star - a demolishing crew on a spaceship (they blow up planets) have a smart bomb go awry and attempt to detonate itself while still aboard. The first mate (captain died and is frozen in suspension) has to use a brain-in-a-jar existential argument to talk the smart bomb out of detonating.

Meanwhile on board, Sgt Pinback (O'Bannon) has lost his pet alien. It is a painted beach ball with feet. It gets into the ducts and he has to go in search for it. These scenes are replicated almost exactly in Alien.

It is a great film and it contains many themes that Carpenter and O'Bannon explore throughout their careers. Any serious fan of the genre should see Dark Star.

I read a story (in an old archive website of science fiction, mainly prior to 1920 at...some Uni, I forget which[1] but it was a story about a guy, in space, stuck in a spaceship or star base, something, and the computer had control, and he attempted to outsmart the computer to gain control.

I remember my father telling me the same story when me and my brother was a kid (before 1983 because my sister wasn't born yet), and I researched for years to find it. Found similar stories but never knew if I ever found the right one.

I did write the one down prior to 1920 but I don't know where I wrote it down. I lose things, forget things...anyway...I have been thinking perhaps the story originated before 1900 and perhaps not in Science fiction.

Just wondering - did you ever read the original novel? Miles away from the film, but just as good in its own way - I think you'd like it. In fact, I think you'd enjoy pretty much all of Robert Heinlein's work.

Yeah, despite it's somewhat heavy-handed paternalism, Heinlein's novel was enjoyable. The movie adaptation was rather a disappointment for me, in completely writing out the idea of powered armor that was central to Heinlein's concept of the Mobile Infantry.

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Live a good life... If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. I am not afraid.--Marcus Aurelius

Yeah, despite it's somewhat heavy-handed paternalism, Heinlein's novel was enjoyable. The movie adaptation was rather a disappointment for me, in completely writing out the idea of powered armor that was central to Heinlein's concept of the Mobile Infantry.

Bizarrely, despite being a big Heinlein fan, I managed to see the film before reading the book (it was one of about 5 I hadn't tracked down) so I didn't have that problem. The animated series is a bit more book-like, and in the miniatures game you actually had Cougar and Grizzly suits which were FAR closer to the book.

To be honest, I don't really equate the book and the film at all - same general backstory and characters, but miles away in tone and style. I like 'em both, for different reasons.

Just wondering - did you ever read the original novel? Miles away from the film, but just as good in its own way - I think you'd like it. In fact, I think you'd enjoy pretty much all of Robert Heinlein's work.

I've read the novel about 5 times. Love it. I even have the vintage, out of print board game from the 70s.[1] Though it was well done, I was disappointed with the movie. I wanted power armor and I wanted arachnid technology. I also wanted Skinnies.

But Clancy Brown was in it (he's awesome) and so was Denise Richards (prior to being fouled by Charlie Sheen), so it wasn't all bad. I was a little shocked by the graphic violence and disappointed with the guy who brought his 8 year old and 6 of his friends to see it.

Mazzy Star is one of my faves as well. When I recently heard that they were going on tour and that one of their stops was going to be at a venue only about a mile from where I live, I was really psyched. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them next month.

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[On how kangaroos could have gotten back to Australia after the flood]: Don't kangaroos skip along the surface of the water? --Kenn

Mazzy Star is one of my faves as well. When I recently heard that they were going on tour and that one of their stops was going to be at a venue only about a mile from where I live, I was really psyched. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them next month.

I recognised Hope Sandoval's beautiful voice straight away, despite being exposed to Denise Richards beautiful face at the same time.

She Hangs Brightly is still one of my all time favourite albums. I didn't know they were touring again, I'm seriously jealous that you're gonna get to see them!

Who here loved the scene in Aliens where Private Hudson swears excessively, even though he is being dragged by an alien to his death?

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Rule 1: No pooftas. Rule 2: No maltreating the theists, IF, anyone is watching. Rule 3: No pooftas. Rule 4: I do not want to see anyone NOT drinking after light out. Rule 5: No pooftas. Rule 6: There is NO...rule 6.

I wouldn't have at the time -- I didn't know Mazzy Star back then. Actually, the only way I found out about them was shortly after I had had FiOS installed and was going thru the hundreds of channels to see what they all were, and I stumbled across a music station that was playing "Fade Into You". I liked it but didn't think anything more of it until a few months later when I heard "Into Dust" being used in the commercial for Gears of War and thought to myself, "Hey, that sounds like the same woman from that thing I saw... I like her voice." So I did some searches and ended up becoming a fan.

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despite being exposed to Denise Richards beautiful face at the same time.

Ah. Multitasking. Useful.

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I didn't know they were touring again

I only heard about it myself about two months ago or so.

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I'm seriously jealous that you're gonna get to see them!

Well, hey, don't sit around being jealous. Check their tour schedule and see whether you're lucking out on a locale yourself!

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[On how kangaroos could have gotten back to Australia after the flood]: Don't kangaroos skip along the surface of the water? --Kenn